Best use of large EG? Cancel Title is required

So I saw a post about helping sponsored children get access to electricity and it made me want to ask, "If you were going to make a big EG to a sponsored child (say $2k-$5k), what would be the best way to spend that money and have the biggest impact?" I know that donating it to CI might be the right answer.  But I want to set that aside and say, if we're trying to make a life-changing difference to a single child that doesn't break the bank, what' s the best way?  Housing?  Food?  Clothes?  Tuition?  Electricity?  Water?  Books?  Computers?  Would love to hear everything from personal stories to ideas!

One way I  improve life for a child is every month I send $100 EG for needed items. Mostly it goes for food and  minor supplies. I also give $100 for the child's birthday and at the start of school also $100. I have financed 8 wells/pumps, financed 2 small homes, repaired homes. Look at your child's family record for housing conditions, ECT. Ask for an inquiry, though seems like those are hard to come by lately. CALL C I and ask.

It is such a hard subject because I try to a kid building dependency on me and it really depends on the child. One of my sponsor children wants to be a gardener like his dad. I am not sure how that will play out for a higher standard of living for him. After visiting him I wrote him the other day asking if he was interested in an Hispanics science project I have been working on for over 40 years. His house has the space outside to setup the system to grow fruits and vegetables in water along with fish and fresh water shrimp. It is something he could do now to help provided food for the family. I don't want him to have to drop out of school to help support the family. Also the company I work for does gift matching so whatever I do in the way of EGs is matched for CI to use where needed. I have also travelled and built houses for the poor but can't do that for my sponsor children while they are in the program. I think that just writing the children makes a big difference. I sponsor older children that have all had several sponsors before me. Imagine writing letters for a decade never to hear back. One child wanted to learn English so he could speak to his sponsor when he came to visit. He really enjoyed the visit but was too shy to say a single word, perhaps next time. So for him I plan on supporting his desire to learn another language as it opens up the prospects of higher paying jobs in the future. I guess to summarize there isn't a single life changing gift but rather series of smaller gifts that will help improve the future for the children.

Hi Dallas 

I did a sanitary facility for Amira and her family. Next I will be puttung a floor in. My plan is to better each of my kids lives the best I can

I think this is hard to pin down and will ultimately depend on the family.

Computers and Electricity are nice but if you can't afford food or basic clothing they are luxuries more than necessities.

I've been sending my girl in Zambia $100 - $200 each month since I started sponsoring her. I never specify what to use it on so the family can get what they need. It may seem boring on our end since every EG basically goes toward the same thing - Rice, sugar, oil, some clothes, soap, and house rent - but I think that's because that's what's really needed and I feel it's made a positive impact.

Monica and her sister were able to return to school and they both look happier and healthier than they did a year ago. I do worry a bit about dependency and weather or not I can maintain that support though graduation but honestly I figure I'll just do what I can while I'm able. I'm just trying to take some worries off her plate so she can focus on living her life and growing up!

Other than food, clothes, school, and rent the only thing Monica's family has elected to buy is a bed. I did do a special needs inquiry that came back just that they needed money for school so I don't have a feel for if any larger investments would be beneficial to them. 

I also try and write every month - sometimes physical letters and sometimes digital ones but Monica seems to appreciate it even if her return messages are short. She's only 12 and I'm sure has other things to do than write me lol. Though she does seem very determined to make me 'proud' of her school work!

In comparison, my girl in Honduras - when I've sent EG's they bought a bedroom fan and some shirts and clothes - which lets me know they aren't desperate for food. So mostly I just pay her sponsorship and send occasional letters and then EG's for special occasions like Christmas and birthday. 

Even if it's not in the cards for you to send a lot of additional money (or any at all) i think your sponsorship makes a big impact. 

I think the only REALLY large donation I'd consider is tuition for college once she reaches the right age - but it would depend on how she was doing in school. I don't think college is right for everyone nor necessary - but if she wanted to go I'd try and help. 

just my 2c. 

I think it's wonderful that you are able send an EG every month to one of your girls. I guessing she's more needy than your girl in Honduras. I try to send EG when I can to the more needy families. I also try to send them on birthdays but it's not always easy. But now I feel like I should help these families that don't have the best homes. An example is Amira who used the field to use the bathroom. So i saved money to have a sanitary facility built. I was told this will help them a great deal. Next I'm going to put in a floor for them because right now it's made of mud. 

Was wondering if anyone has ever put a roof on a child's home in Honduras?

It really does depend on the child.  I tend to give a bit less to my kid in Colombia.  When I give birthday and Christmas EGs, she always gets clothes and toys.  I've never seen her buy groceries or toiletries.  Given that groceries aren't a regular purchase and the fact that she is able to get toys with the EG, I know the family is getting by ok and doesn't need as much help from me.  My big purchases so far have been for home repair and upgrade in the Philippines and a bunk beds in Ecuador when I found out three kids were attempting to sleep in one single bed every night.  My next big purchase will be for Geraldine who is being raised by her 73 year old grandmother and has plywood walls and a dirt floor in her home.  I also found out just this week that grandma sometimes forgoes medication in order to feed Geraldine and her brother, so monthly EGs might become a regular thing for a while for her.  I try to provide what I can for each of my kids, but that sometimes means giving a little less to kids who are doing better so I can give a little more to the kids who aren't doing as well.  It's a balancing act to be sure since I still need to make sure my own kids are getting what they need and we are still able to meet our financial responsibilities (I can't default on loans in order to provide for my sponsor kids).

All the replies have been so interesting.  I will say that the concern of not being able to keep it up in the future should business get bad, which is why I was looking at a lump sum gift.  My girl is also using the field and has a dirt floor, so I think those are really good feasible ideas.  I also wonder, how is that you all know so much about their needs?  Is that something you can get from CI, or do I need to ask the child in a letter?  Thanks again everyone.  Whenever I'm having a bad day, I stop by here to remind myself that not everyone is terrible!!!!

For example if you want to have a sanitary facility built, call CI and they can find out for you

Letters depend on the child. My experience is not getting responses to each question consistently. Perhaps two out of three. The answers may not have the detail I was looking for. I visited the children but you can ask CI to do an inquiry. Also I have a separate account for charity. More money goes in than monthly commitments. If something comes up there is money to send. If something we're to happen to me the sponsor payments will continue. It is a conservative approach resulting from being unemployed for a few years after 9/11.

Dallas_C5853:  I found out about the beds through something my child mentioned in a letter and then an inquiry to CI about the comment.  Geraldine's grandmother foregoing meds came directly from Geraldine in a letter.  For the home repairs and upgrade, I just gave a large amount of money to one of my kids and said to use it on whatever was needed and they chose to improve the home with it.

After visiting my kids in the Philippines 3 years ago, I visited the home of one girl which was in terrible condition.  I asked CI what I could do to improve it, and they told me that it would have to be torn down and a new house built.  I went ahead with building the family a new house, and they have been doing well since then.  One other sponsored child had a leaky roof, which her father could repair if he had the materials.  I was happy to provide them.   Making sure my kids have adequate housing has been my goal, with electricity and running water if possible.  Once this is done, I try to send an EG to help the child and all the siblings get some school supplies.

Depending on your child's situation, you may consider putting up a water source like "Jetmatic pump and concrete tank"shown at:

www.children.org/MySocialCenter/MyMedia?screenName=david2051

Ideal solution to the current water crisis facing people in the Philippines!

I also prefer to have a global impact from large investments, like my HOPE Scholarship Trust set up in 2006.

If the child in question is close to college/trade school age, a several-thousand dollar donation might be used to set up an education fund for him/her. When I paid for Anna Marie's college in the Philippines, it was $600-$800 per semester for four years (which, added up, is $4800 - $6400).  I didn't have the lump sum in the beginning, so I paid by semester--any unused funds from one semester were carried over and applied to the next. But I believe you should be able to pay the amount all at once, designated as "college tuition and expenses" or some such, and CI can disperse it out accordingly. Might be worth inquiring about!

Thanks so much for letting us know of this option, Saddare!   I didn't know it was possible.

CI does not monitor the disbursement of college fees deposited by a sponsor once they graduate from CI anymore. I sent a year's college expenses for one of my youth that graduated CI and she did not use the funds for her education.

I agree that this is complicated to answer.  If a child has a leaking roof, cannot keep items clean and dry, is hungry all of the time . . . can they focus on education?  In the end, I prioritize educational support though because I don't see the other things leading to a path out of poverty.  I do give EGs to the other children who aren't in school (often siblings or relatives of the kids in school) and they are most commonly used for food, clothing and maybe an occasional toy when I indicate it is for a birthday.

I think everything the children receive helps, but my real goal is to help them no longer live in poverty, so education and employment is my top focus.

I wouldn't know where to begin or end on an educational EG.  When would be a good age to inquire about this?  How would you even know it's necessary, or even what could be done (Philippines)?  It just seems odd to be like: "here, for education!"

BennyNJun, the Philippines *used* to be an easy answer. Youth graduated high school at 16, so they still had three years in CI's program, during which they could go to college and CI would distribute funds sent by a sponsor as needed. Now, though, Philippine youth graduate high school at 18, leaving a much smaller window before they also graduate from the CI program. As Bill mentioned above, CI will no longer oversee the disbursement of the college funds once the child graduates from the CI program. They will set up an account with the funds you send, but it will be up to the youth to spend the funds accordingly for their education. I believe this is how they handle it even if you also sponsor the youth's younger sibling, so that's not a viable work-around to ensure oversight of the funds. DebbieS has said in previous conversations that CI is exploring ways for sponsors to be able to continue supporting the education once their youth graduates, but I don't think anything has been implemented on that front yet. :-/

If, however, your youth is looking at a shorter trade school or something of that ilk, it may be much more manageable. You could send an inquiry (probably at the beginning of their senior year? Or maybe the end of their junior year) to find out what their post-high school plans are--that's what I did for Anna Marie and Joyce (both of whom went to 4-year colleges). In Anna's case, I paid for all of her expenses--tuition, books, uniforms, transportation, etc. Joyce, however, had earned a scholarship, and so for her I only sent a donation at the beginning of each year for incidental expenses. Every child's needs will be different, and the only way to really find out what yours needs is an inquiry.

Thanks, Saddare!  That was super helpful. :)

Regarding paying for college which at one time I pondered very seriously -- I want to push this discussion toward more reality:  If you Google the college drop-out rate  say in the Philippines, this is what you find: "In the Philippines, the dropout rates revealed an alarming 83.7 percent, meaning the country is producing 2.13 million college dropouts annually."  I researched and I researched and came to the conclusion the situation is too iffy -- no matter which country.  I decided to remain focused on what CI oversees -- which is giving children and pre-adults a better start.

Yeah, that wasn't very clear!  I sponsor mostly children in Guatemala, where school was only "free" through 6th grade until fairly recently.  It's now compulsory through basico (middle school), but that doesn't mean a school is close enough for the family to avoid several hundred dollars of transportation.  Roughly 10% of Guatemalans graduate high school, which typically teaches a trade also.  From what I learned by visiting, since less than 1% (at the time anyway) of Guatemalans graduate university, the high school trades can provide a middle class lifestyle for their country.

For younger kids, they use it to buy a second uniform, gym outfit, extra school shoes, supplies beyond what CI provides, transportation to the school, general clothing, etc.  The older kids usually have transportation and, often, tuition for attendance.  Their final year, they also have to purchase a uniform and other items to complete a mandatory internship for high school graduation.  In two new countries, I wasn't sure about the situation and the money was used for clothes and a desk, so I'm not as worried about access to basic education in Ecuador and Honduras, at least not with younger kids (I'll check again later though!)

In India, virtually all families will sacrifice whatever they can to provide tutoring (tuitions) for their children because, without them, the level of education isn't sufficient for the children to always pass grades and, especially to pass the exam to continue beyond 10th grade.

This is in reference to helping with a child's college education after she has completed the CI program. One of my sponsored kids is in Guatemala and is now 19, so she will be out of the CI program in June. She is, I think, beginning her third semester of college, attending part-time. I have helped with her school and college expenses and can pay for her current year. However, I didn't know until recently that I could "deposit" money with CI for her use after she leaves the program, Unfortunately, right now I can't get together a substantial sum to ensure she can finish her college--she wants to be an attorney. Does anyone know a crowd sourcing or similar program through which I could raise some additional funds for her before June? I am concerned that she will need to quit school to work and help her family financially. It is so exceptional that she is at university despite all the difficulties involved with transportation to school, let alone the cost. Any ideas?

Also, CI wrote that I could continue to correspond with her even after the end of her program participation. I assume they would give me an address where I can contact her. Has anyone had this experience? Also, I don't speak/write Spanish, so we would need a translator. I have other, younger sponsored kids, including in the Philippines, and they are all, of course, very dear to me. But this young woman and her determination is so close to my heart. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks!

Paying for things: Even for my own children I used reloadable prepaid debit cards. I picked ones with on-line access and smart phone apps. I could log in and see where the money went and add funds. You would have to find one that works best in the country your sponsor child lives in with the lowest fee structure. Basically you would administer rather than CI after graduation and you can add the money as needed and not have to come up with all of it by June.

Regarding language gap: I use translation apps to read foreign languages. You still need to understand some of the language to figure things out that don't translate well. I have not found a free to use one that translates from English very well. I know enough of the language to know when the context of the word was missed conveying completely something else. Sometimes it is punctuation like forgetting a ? mark and sometime just the choice of words. When I am stuck I ask someone I know that is fluent in the language.

Crowdfunding : I don't like the fees associated with using these venues. I support educational loans on Kiva. If you or your sponsor child were to go that route I would help with the funding campaign to get it funded.

RE: corresponding after graduation--When your child graduates the program, you have the opportunity to write a final letter to them. In it, you can choose to include ways by which your graduate can reach you to maintain communication (email, Facebook, regular mail, etc). It is then up to the graduate to choose to reach out via one of the ways you provide. CI will not, as far as I know, provide you with direct contact information for your graduate (unless, *maybe*, if your child asks them to do so? I'm not sure on that one). I have given all of my graduates my email address and Facebook profile in the final letters. My graduates from the Philippines have all reached out to me via Facebook--it seems to be as popular there as it is here in the US. I never heard from my Guatemala graduate at all. =(

"If you were going to make a big EG to a sponsored child (say $2k-$5k), what would be the best way to spend that money and have the biggest impact?"
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This doesn't answer the question, but recently I was thinking something similar. I decided to write one check that would cover all of my sponsored kids' monthly support through the date that each will age out of CI.  My terrific CI contact worked out the math and gave me a dollar amount, and afterward actually designated the contribution so it's easily identified on my page.  It was a pretty big number, but at least I don't have to think about it again.  

Going forward, I figured I can consider extra gifts as we go along, including maybe those life-changing items. My thinking is that at least all of the basic sponsorships are guaranteed for as long as each of the kids are with the CI program.   Psychologically, it clears the way for generous extra gifts.

If any did not make it all the way through, for whatever reason, I could reassign that portion as I then want.

Find out all her college information before she is out of the program, and address. Then you can pay her college directly each semester before she starts?